LEXINGTON, Va. – It was as stark of a difference as could be from match number one earlier this spring, as Averett University women's tennis squared off with Randolph College in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference semifinals. The Cougars, while pushed, pulled through, and advanced to the conference championship with a 4-2 victory on Saturday morning at the Duchossois Tennis Center.
In its second try versus Averett (16-4), Randolph (10-9) made its first statement by winning in first doubles to open play. The Cougars replied back with a win at the third spot, as
Elisa Battermann and
Dilara Sultanova took a 6-1 decider versus the WildCats' Sabrina Dickerson and Gianna Cabrera-Castilla.
Down to the middle court, Randolph's Fleur Gallman and Emma Bauer contended, even pushing the set to a tiebreak at six games apiece. In spite of that,
Brenda Poulakidas and
Ravaka Ramanantoanina stamped the win, as they prevailed 7-5 in the said tiebreak, and took a crucial point for the team, going into singles matches.
Siddhi Khandelwal continued her great play at No. 2 singles, as she took care of the WildCats' Gaalman, 6-3, 6-2, earning her tenth with of the season. Lize Van Veen rebuffed back for Randolph, victorious at third singles to earn the first point for the WildCats.
Starting play after her fellow teammates,
Siddhi Khot then made quick work of Dickerson, 6-0, 6-0, to put the Cougars up 3-1, and a point away from the conference finals.
Two Averett players were gridlocked into full third sets, except
Annika Kellerer at No. 6. Starting play after the finish of previous matches. The WildCats prevailed in the first of those, as Lena Kersten persisted beyond the efforts of Averett's Ramanantoanina at No. 1. Ramanantoanina forced a third set after a long second set win, but Kersten had the upper edge in the third, and made the score now 3-2 in the Cougars' favor.
Kellerer slammed the door shut on any comeback effort, winning her 14th match of the season, and sixth at the sixth singles spot to catapult Averett into the ODAC tournament final.
Head Coach
Bert Poole now sits a win away from a national tournament bid, but the strongest in the ODAC still remains. The Cougars rematch No. 39 Washington and Lee from last year's final, and from earlier this season. The two schools face off tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. for all the stakes.
